Professor Wang enjoyed numerous accomplishments through his life, and was devoted to promoting green infrastructure throughout China. In addition to the above named posts, here are just a few more:

L to R: Wang Xianmin in 2014 China Qingdao City with the world’s ecological green roof of the General Assembly and 2013 China Nanjing World Green Roof Assembly. Photos courtesy of IRLA.

Wang Xianmin was the Secretary-general of the Association of Professional Committee of China Building Energy Efficiency and International Association for the Promotion of the Electric Vehicle, 2015-2013;
Secretary-general of the 2014 (Qingdao), 2013 (Nanjing), and 2012 (Hangzhou) China World Green Roof Conferences;
Deputy Chief of the Vertical Greening Academic Group of China Green Building Council;
Former Secretary-general of the Great Wall Green Engineering Organizing Committee;
Former Deputy Dean of the Asia-Pacific Education Centre of Peking University;
Former Director of the Research Center for Better Business China.

See his remembrance from the WGRA and IRLA in Mandarin Chinese here (click on translate to see the English version).

Ed Snodgrass of Emory Knoll Farms told us the news, and has this to say about Professor Wang:

“Wang Xianmin, Professor, founder of China’s Green Roof Associations, and the Executive Vice President of International Rooftop Landscaping Association passed away recently. Mr. Wang was a warm and gentle man that I have had the pleasure to get to know and work with over the last four years. He worked hard to promote green roofs and green walls in China.

He was adept at making everyone feel welcome and cared for. He will certainly be missed.” ~ Ed Snodgrass

L to R: Mr. Mung; Mr. Snodgrass; Mr. Wang.

We remember Mr. Wang fondly for his beautiful nature and decades of very important work; here are some thoughts from his fellow WGIN members:

“Professor Xianmin Wang was responsible for the thriving green infrastructure industry in China by holding many conferences including Hainan 2010, the Shanghai Expo 2011, World Congress in 2012, Nanjing 2013. Professor Wang made many friends in Australia when he spoke in Sydney in 2011 and at the 2014 World Green Infrastructure Congress. He was well respected internationally and loved for his warmth, generosity and passion about green roofs.” ~ Matthew Dillon, Green Roofs Australasia

On August 25 Green Roofs Australasia observed a 3-minute moment of silence with China at 2100.

“Professor Wang was leading the charge to bring Green roofing into the mainstream in China. He had a huge smile, and a gentleness and kindness about him that made everyone feel welcome! He will be missed! ” ~ Steven Peck, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities

A board member of the World Green Infrastructure Network, Mr. Wang is also remembered on the WGIN website:

Professor Wang was a great conference organizer and believer in the promotion of new ideas as well as youth. Below he’s speaking in Qingdao, 2014 promoting greenroofs and green energy as a member of the International Association for the Promotion of the Electric Vehicle:

Here he is (middle, left of Mr. Mung) in Nanjing at the 2013 Award Ceremony of Green Award International Landscape Planning Competition:

Aramis and I met Professor Wang for the first time in Singapore where he and I both spoke in 2010 at the inaugural International Skyrise Greenery Conference. We were captivated by his genuine smile, gentle demeanor and fierce commitment to engage us to come to China and help spread the word about greenroofs and greenwalls, which we did in 2012 along with Steven, Matt, Manfred, and many more.

Organized again by Wang Xianmin and his great staff at IRLA, the 2012 Hangzhou China World Green Roof Conference was attended by hundreds – I would guess about 1,600. It was a fantastic event and we all were treated like royalty.

Afterwards about 10 of us went on an amazing whirlwind 6-day tour to several cities including Beijing and Xi’an, the Great Wall of China – and we even had two airplane trips.

Professor Wang met us in Beijing and treated us to a dinner extravaganza including awesome food, musicians, acrobats, and even a magician. Led by Professor Wang’s right hand man, William Wei (middle photo, left), our experiences will be greatly cherished and it was truly a trip of a lifetime.

Back at home, Professor Wang graciously participated in both Greenroofs.com’s inaugural Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 and in 2013. See his videos below:

“The Status of Chinese Green Roofs & Featured Presentations from the 2012 Hangzhou China World Green Roof Congress” for the Virtual Summit 2013: Wang Xianmin gave us an overview of greenroof challenges and growth in China and invited participants to attend the 2013 China World Green Roof Congress in Nanjing held in October of that year. Following Wang Xianmin’s video, you can see videos that IRLA shared with Greenroofs.com from the 2012 Hangzhou China•World Green Roof Congress, in both Mandarin and English.

As you may recall, this time Greenroofs.com partnered with the World Green Infrastructure Network (WGIN) and between us we produced 36 videos involving 59 esteemed international speakers – here’s the video breakdown: 22 Individual Presenters, including 5 Keynotes; 5 Panel Sessions; and 9 Collaborative Presentations.

What better way to inaugurate the Virtual Summit 2013 (VS2013) series than by showing you a video with great people and a couple of awesome projects in Sydney, host city of the upcoming (next week!) World Green Infrastructure Congress 2014 held by Green Roofs Australasia and WGIN? Hosted by Matthew Dillon, president of Green Roofs Australasia, you will be highly entertained and get a glimpse of sustainable design Down Under.

Matt Dillon, President of Green Roofs Australasia, takes you on a journey with onsite talks about new urban green sites in Australia, including the current Central Park Towers in Sydney and the Ivy, “a sophisticated urban playground for grown ups.”

Located in the Broadway section of Sydney, the mixed-use Central Park Towers development is designed by French architect Jean Nouvel and French botanist Patrick Blanc – inventor of the vertical garden. The vertical hanging gardens will be the most visible feature. At 150 metres, One Central Park will be his tallest (not largest overall) garden to date, using a variety of species, many native to Australia. His informative video will also include coverage of his interview with Patrick Blanc discussing the progress of One Central Park.

Matt also interviewed Daniel Baffsky of 360° Landscape Architects about the new spectacular Ivy, “a mad burlesque of circus, dance and sensory overload throughout 10 bars, 4 levels & 3 stages” cloaked in greenery. The Ivy is part Brazilian modernism and Hollywoodish Palm Springs its blue roof/green rooftop – a bit of an urban jungle.

Here’s more:

“Newtown, Australia. Since 1980 Matthew has expanded his architectural discipline to also encompass interior architecture, sustainable building design, landscape design, public sculpture and green infrastructure for the built form. He is the President of Green Roofs Australasia (GRA) and a member of the World Green Infrastructure Network (WGIN), being primarily focused on advocacy to promote the industry. Matthew is also principal of verdant australia, which provides green infrastructure consultancy for residential, commercial & industrial architectural design in Australasia.” ~ VS2013

“We understand that all companies cannot afford the expenses associated with a Congress so it has been with this in mind that the WGIC Organising Committee agreed to this cost saving, economical offer for companies wishing to participate but were unable due to financial concerns.

With only a few weeks to this event and limited number of opportunities, don’t miss out on a great opportunity to showcase your organisation. Please see below the Prospectus and Floor Plan:

We hope this will give you cause to THINK AGAIN about joining the WGIC 2014 Exhibition Floor.”

And, don’t forget to click on the banner below to receive your great 50% Discount on Registration, an exclusive benefit to our Greenroofs.com readership:

With Green Roofs Australasia‘s president Matthew Dillon at the helm, the WGIC 2014 in Sydney this October promises to be an awesome conference and exhibition, not to mention networking and great tours!

L-R: Daniel Tohill, Permaculture Institute, New Zealand; Tong Mahn Ahn, Seoul National University “Green Roofs in Seoul to Make the Metropolis Healthier,” South Korea – Keynote Presentation; Jeff Sorrill, Green Roof Centre; Department of Landscape and School of Architecture; University of Sheffield, United Kingdom.

One Central Park, Broadway, Sydney: The world’s tallest vertical garden with 450 types of different plants and 250 local species.

Just one of many case studies highlighted, French botanist Dr. Patrick Blanc, the designer of the One Central Park (OCP) vertical garden, will be presenting on the project. The project manager, Craig Elgie, and landscape architect Keith Stead will also be presenting with the stunning OCP included in the all day Sydney Green Site Tour on October 8. The guided bus tour will provide an informative field trip with visits to small, medium and large projects within the inner Sydney area. Project details and specifications will be included in the Green Site Booklet with talks from projects designers; a comfortable bus will be provided along with a picnic lunch at the Royal Botanical Gardens.

If you’re considering this fantastic Australian trip-of-a-lifetime but still weighing the costs, now is certainly the time to take advantage of this deal and make your dream trip real!

Green Roofs Australasia and we warmly invite you to share in this unique conference setting and experience with us.

“Join us for spring in Australia. Join us for a meeting of the best minds, the most capable hands and the most generous spirits in the “Land Down-Under.” Expand your knowledge, broaden your horizons and develop a worldwide network of professionals, educators, doers and thinkers. The World Green Infrastructure Congress promises all this and more.”~ Matthew Dillon, GRA